Building block



Nov. 5, 1935. c, R. BUYER BUILDING BLOCK Filed June 14. 1932 if a Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES a,c19,s53 BUmDlNG nLocx" Clarence E. Buyer, Builalo, N. Y. Application June v14, 1932, serial No. 611153 sCllms.

'I'his invention relates to certain new and. useful improvements in building blocks.

One of its objects is to provide a building block or tile which is designed tofacilitate the laying 5 of them in courses and in proper spaced relation and at the same time eilectually interlock them against relative lateral` as well as longitudinal displacement.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the blocks that they are self-supporting o ne on the other and are not subject to settle when laid to form a wall, and which are designed to require but a minimum -amount of mortar between adjoining blocks.

A further object is toprovide a building block which can also be made into miniature form for toy building blocks.

In the accompanying drawing:'-Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a building wall, partly in section, composed of blocks constructed in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of said Wall. Figure 3 is a cross section taken in line @-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the blocks.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My invention is applicable to any known form or type of building block, such as brick, tile or the like, and may be made oi any appropriate material, such as clay, concrete, etc.; or in the case of toy blocks, the same may be made of wood or any appropriate moldable material.

By way of example, I have illustrated the building block in the form of a hollow body I of common rectangular shape and having interlocking projections, bosses or tenons Il onits top side and correspondingly-shaped sockets or recesses I2 in its bottom side. These 'companion bosses and sockets are preferably arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the block and their side faces are "beveled, as indicated at i3 and H, respectively. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the depth of the sockets l2 is preferably somewhat shallower than the height or thickness of the bosses II, so that in the laying of the blocks one upon another, the top faces of the bosses rest snugly and firmly against the opposing bottom faces of the companion sockets with the sloping sides thereof likewise in contacting sealing engagement. By 'this construction, a gap or clearance space i5 is left between the opposing marginal faces of the blocks surrounding4 the bossesy and sockets for the reception-ot the mortar, the interlocking arrangement (Cl. 'I2-41) affording the laying of the blocks uniformly and accurately, and the contiguous bearing contact between the bosses Il and the sockets l2 eliminating all danger of the Wall sagging while the same is' laid in courses. The relative dimensions 5 of these bosses and their sockets also provide a positive and uniform spacing of the block-v courses as well as effect a material saving in time and labor as well as mortar consumption, and avoid waste. m

At its front or outer side each block is preferi ably provided with a rabbet-like kerf or recess i6 extending around the marginal top and side edges of the block in the manner shown in Figure 4, the depth of the top portion of the recess being 35 substantially twice that of the side portions thereof, so that when the blocks are placed end to end with resulting vertical grooves i1 between the blocks will be substantially the same as that resulting from the horizontal grooves i8 therebegq; tween. The end faces of the blocks abut against each other and in the event that niortar is used in the resulting grooves il and i8, it is prevented from being displaced between such faces, the companion tenons and recesses Il and l2 eiecg5 tually holding them in place against endwise separation. If'desired, this marginal recess I 6 may also be applied to the rear or inner side of the blocks.

It will also be understood by constructing the 3o blocks in this manner, that several courses of blocks can be put in place and then the mortar introduced where necessary or desired by means of a spraying operation, the mortar being injected Ainto the spaces for receiving it without disturb- 35 ing the blocks after they have once been placed.. Furthermore, the blocks can be laid quickly and with precision, and as they are positively sustained one upon another in flrm'abutting contact both horizontally and vertically, it is not neces- 4o sary to wait for the mortar to set, thereby making it possible 4to build a wall in a minimum period of time and without any exceptional skill on the part of the tradesmen.

1. A building block of the character described comprising a body having flat, smooth end faces free from projections and depressions and having a `marginal groove in its front face extending around the top and side edges thereof, the depth 50 oi' the top portion ofthe groove being substanv tially twice that of the corresponding dimension of the end portions oi' the groove, said body having projections on its top side and recesses of corresponding shape, in its bottom side. u

2. A wall construction. comprising a plurality of blocks disposed in superposed and endwise abutting relation to form a wall and each consisting of a body having interlocking bevel-edged projections on its top. side and companion likeshaped recesses in its bottom side, the depth of the recesses being shallower than the height ot the projections, and a marginal groove in"the front face of said body extending around the top and side edges thereof, the projections and recesses predetermining the vertical space between the blocks and the marginal groove gaging the mortar space for the ends of the blocks.

3..A wall constructiomcomprising a plurality o! blocks disposed in courses and each consisting o! a body having bevel-edged projections on its top side and companion like-shaped recesses in its bottom side, the projections on one block being arranged to interlock with the corresponding'reprojections, each of said blocks having a marginal groove in its iront face extending around the top and side edges thereof, the depth of the top por- 10 tion oi the groove being somewhat greater than i the corresponding dimension ot the end portions thereof whereby.- when said blocks are placed in endwise and superposed relation to form a wall, a

preformed groove of substantially uniform width u is provided at the sidesand ends oi' adjoining I blocks.

CLARENCE R. BUYER. 

